ISP Sky Broadband Offers UK FTTC Customers Free Upgrades to FTTP
Customers of Sky Broadband’s “superfast” (part-fibre) packages (FTTC or SOGEA), specifically those living in areas where Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) lines now exist from either Openreach or CityFibre’s networks, have started to receive Texts (SMS) and WhatsApp messages inviting them to upgrade to their Full Fibre 100Mbps (18Mbps upload) service “at no extra charge“.
So far as ISPreview can tell, the new programme appears to have started a few weeks ago, although it’s recently started to ramp-up with more invitations going out. We suspect it’s no coincidence that this is occurring shortly after Sky Broadband introduced support for CityFibre’s cheaper and faster network (here), which reaches around 4.5 million UK premises (Openreach’s FTTP covers 19 million). Sky also benefits from volume discounts when upgrading customers on to Openreach’s FTTP lines.
Suffice to say that it makes sense for Sky Broadband to upgrade customers to full fibre once it becomes available in an area (other providers, such as TalkTalk, have similar programmes). But doing so at scale often has to be carefully managed and phased over time to avoid over-stretching engineering resources.
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The upgrades will naturally require an engineer’s visit to install the new line to your home, as well as an optical modem (ONT / ONU) and router (some customers will already have their latest router). But take note that vulnerable customers with incompatible telecare alarm systems won’t yet be able to take advantage of this programme.
Sky is home to somewhere around 5.5 to 5.7 million broadband customers and most of those will probably still be on part-fibre connections, which gives some indication as to the scale of such a programme and why it has to be carefully managed. But it’s also possible to request the upgrade directly, provided you’re in an area where FTTP is available from the aforementioned networks.
Customers who are successfully upgraded will usually not be able to move back to their old connection later (FTTC will eventually be retired), won’t pay more per month than they currently do, should retain their existing Sky Talk phone number (if you have one) and your existing contract term will NOT be changed (e.g. if you had 3 months left until end of term then that will stay the same).
Sky’s Full Fibre At No Extra Cost FAQ
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/full-fibre-broadband-at-no-extra-cost
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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I was told by EE in August last year that I would get an automatic upgrade once FTTP is available in the area. Yet there are adjacent premises on Openreach FTTP, but still no sign of the upgrade.
Ring them up and ask where it is then.
@Big Dave: openreach donot give out details.
If Openreach have upgraded your street and your neighbours can get it then you should be able to call them and request the upgrade.
@Far2329Light. Dave means phone EE. They will run through all options to upgrade
Thank you John.
@John Smith: It was a representative of EE (my ISP) that made the comment, however, it is Openreach that performs the upgrades and they do not give out dates.
Have you tried the Openreach Fibre Checker here:- https://www.openreach.com/fibre-checker
@Big Dave:
Yes.
There are two fibre providers, plus Virgin Media, on DOCSIS, that pass the premises. Adjacent premises are shown on other maps to have connections with one or other of them. However, I live in a low-rise MDU (the adjacent premises are all semi-detached Victorian mansions). I was promised an automatic upgrade, but it has not happened. Checks for FTTP availability for the building’s postcode report that FTTP is not available.
This is a common problem in London and other major urban areas where MDUs are typically found. The providers are claiming to have passed a number of premises, but they are not reporting to how many of those passed premises they will not provide FTTP.
As a consequence, many urban dwellers are not being included in the roll-out of FTTP.
It might be of interest that COMCAST/Sky recently reached an agreement to sell its German operations. The sale will involve a significant loss and will release less than GBP 200mn to the business, but perhaps some of those funds will be used to help with this transition.
At least the contract is not renewed, which to be honest surprised me. Any excuse to keep people longer, but good Sky for that.
It is bound to be a free upgrade, they want people on FTTP, so not going to charge.
The one thing I am worried about for people is if they are talked into getting something faster than they need and will cost more.
There’s a good argument to start with the lowest tier and only upgrade as and when you need to. I started with 150/30, BT then gave me a free months “demo” at 500/70 and I didn’t take it up and it stayed at that for the remainder of my contract without me paying a penny more.
It would be stupid of Sky to tie this full-fibre migration to a new contract renewal as many customers will not do it – precisely what Sky wants to avoid. Indeed many will seek another ISP when it comes to contract renewal.
@Big Dave, I agree with you unless you get a good deal, I started off with 500Mb/s because it was offered at a lower price for 12 months than the lower speed. I stay with it now because the price difference is minimal, a couple of quid a month. Still paying less staying where I am for 500Mb/s than I would be for less speed with another provider. so as long as the service stays good and the price is right, I will stay.
It is okay having a free demo, as long as you can go back to a slower speed without any problems.
@Roger_Gooner, I agree, but some of these companies are stupid, but then, so are a lot of their customers and that is what they rely on. Maybe stupid is a bit strong, I should say, get taken in by marketing speak.
Very surprised the deal isn’t tied to a new contract term. That would have seemed reasonable, at least for contracts with a short time left. Unless of course your renewal is going up 😉
This will hit openreach, as they will be moving openreach FTTC lines over to cityfibre in many cases.
Yes, I expect that this will happen but bear in mind that CityFibre has overbuilt about 13.3% of Openreach’s fibre and it’s not as if Cityfibre will get all of the migration business in the overbuilt areas.
Yes they will. Sky inform me that the choice of OR or CF is automated and they don’t get a say. QED where CF is available, it’s cheaper and that’s what the computer will give you. OR need to up their game.
When I signed up for my FTTC package over 2 years ago I was told I would get a free upgrade to fttp.
Sadly fttp is on every road inu area except mine, and there are no plans to install. It’s not even rural.
Just got cityfibre on street, called sky but they say they can’t upgrade me from FTTC to FTTP on cityfibre and can’t give me a time when they can. Now I wish I hadn’t renewed my contract, cityfibre arrived a month later and Sky are selling it to new customers on the street!
If CF is available in your street and your neighbours are getting it through Sky you should be able to upgrade as per the article. Worth another phone call.
Wait for your notification from sky of price increase. You can then leave without penalty to a provider with CityFibre
They’ve been doing something similar for years. Back in 2020, I was out of contract and they migrated me to FTTP 500mb from FTTC 80mb for the same money